An old fashioned log cabin often included these qualities: The corners were notched evenly, the lines were square, the sides were smoothed, and the wood was left unpainted to show the natural color of the lumber. Styles of Early Log CabinsĪ well-made log cabin was carefully constructed from the ground up, lasting for years to come. These log cabins often lasted several generations, making them a reliable shelter for the rich and poor alike. But with a team of men, it was possible to build a two-story log home. Because of the weight of the logs, a lone man could build a cabin only about 7 or so logs high. Roof shingles would be cut using the froe. Then, the logs must be notched and put together with the chimney and fireplace. Trees have to be chopped down, trimmed, and then dragged to the home site. With three men, it could be done in just a couple of days. For a single man, it would take only a week or two to build a one-room cabin. Secondly, the building process was relatively simple. So what made log cabins a popular home choice for early settlers and pioneers? First, cabins required few tools (the ax and froe) and simple materials (lumber), so resources needed to build one were fairly easy to come by.

Later immigrants from Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and Britain followed suit and adopted their cabin-building technique. The Finns and Swedes settled along the banks of the Delaware River (New Sweden) in the 1630’s, and it’s believed that they built some of the first American log cabins. When Europeans began settling in America in the 17th century, they also brought their extensive knowledge and skills of wood construction. The origin of the first log cabins date back to the Bronze Age (3,500 BCE) in northern Europe. Image by anoldent via Flickr The Beginning of Log Cabins in America From a quaint one-room home in the 17th century to a modern, 3-story vacation home, here’s a look at the history of the humble log cabin.

Vertical log cabin history architecture